Traditional web hosting is outdated. It has problems like limited scalability, high costs, security risks, and a lack of flexibility. On the other hand cloud hosting is the modern solution, that can adapt the requirements of modern web applications.
AWS (Amazon Web Services) gives a wide range of options for hosting Laravel applications. You can choose from the easy-to-use Elastic Beanstalk, the scalable Fargate, or the serverless Lambda, so there’s something for every project.
By understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each option, you can confidently choose the best hosting strategy that fits your needs.
Take your Laravel application to the next level with cloud hosting. Continue reading this article to learn the best approaches for hosting your Laravel project on AWS.
Prerequisites for Hosting Laravel Application on AWS
Before we start, make sure you have everything ready to host your Laravel app on AWS.
AWS Account
First, you’ll need an AWS account. This is your gateway to accessing all the services Amazon Web Services offers. If you don’t have one already, you’ll need to sign up.
A Laravel Project Ready for Deployment
Next, make sure your Laravel project is ready to go. It should be fully developed, tested, and prepared for deployment. Think of it as a polished product ready to be showcased.
Expertise on AWS Services
Finally, consider your AWS expertise. If you’re comfortable with complex server setups and security, managing AWS directly might be your path. But if you prefer a simpler approach, platforms like Laravel Forge or Vapor can handle much of the heavy lifting.
Best Approaches for Hosting Laravel Project on Aws
AWS offers a wide range of hosting options, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Deciding which one is best for your Laravel project depends on factors like how big your app is, how many users you expect, what services you need, how complex it is to set up, and your team’s skills.
In the following sections, we’ll dive into these different hosting approaches and help you pick the perfect one for your Laravel app on AWS.
The different kinds of methods include:
- AWS Lightsail
- Laravel Forge (For deploying on AWS EC2)
- Laravel Vapor (for serverless applications)
- AWS Elastic Beanstalk
- Serverless (AWS Lambda and AWS API Gateway)
- ECS (Elastic Container Service)
- Fargate
- EKS (Elastic Kubernetes Service)
1. AWS Lightsail
AWS Lightsail is a user-friendly platform designed to help individuals and small businesses get started with cloud computing. It’s like a simplified version of Amazon’s complex cloud services. You can quickly set up servers, storage, and databases without needing to be a tech expert.
Lightsail is perfect for projects that don’t require super advanced features. It’s easy on the wallet too, making it a great choice for those just starting out. However, if you need something highly customizable or scalable, Lightsail might not be the best fit.
For a deeper dive into Lightsail, check out the official AWS documentation.
2. Laravel Forge (For Deploying on AWS EC2)
Laravel Forge is an easy-to-use platform that helps you manage Laravel applications smoothly. While it doesn’t replace powerful tools like AWS Elastic Beanstalk or AWS Lightsail, it works well with AWS EC2 instances to make deploying your application easier.
Forge takes care of the complicated server setup, so you can concentrate on building your application. It offers features like automated deployments, scheduled tasks, and database management, which simplify everyday tasks. This makes it a great choice for smaller to medium-sized projects that don’t need very complicated server setups.
However, if you have a larger project with special requirements or if you need a lot of scalability, you might want to look into more advanced AWS services instead of just using Forge.
In the end, the best choice depends on what your project needs. Forge can be very helpful, but it’s important to consider what your project really requires.
Take a look at this documentation link from Laravel Forge for more information.
3. Laravel Vapor (for Serverless Applications)
Laravel Vapor is a special tool designed to make running Laravel apps on AWS super easy. It handles all the tricky server stuff automatically, so you can focus on building your app.
Imagine having an app that can handle lots of users without crashing. Vapor does this by adjusting its size based on how many people are using it. This means you only pay for what you use, saving you money. Plus, it takes care of backups, databases, and other boring technical stuff.
While Vapor is fantastic for many projects, it might not be perfect for everyone. If you need total control over your servers or have a super complex app, you might want to explore other AWS options.
To learn more about Vapor and see if it’s right for you, check out the official documentation.
4. AWS Elastic Beanstalk
Elastic Beanstalk is like a pre-configured platform for deploying your web application. It handles the technical setup, so you can focus on building your app. This makes it a great choice for getting your project off the ground quickly.
However, Elastic Beanstalk isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. If you need total control over your servers or want to build complex systems, it might not be the best fit. In those cases, options like ECS or EKS offer more flexibility.
Essentially, Elastic Beanstalk is great for simpler applications, but for more complex projects, you might need to explore other AWS services.
Check out this AWS documentation about Elastic Beanstalk to learn more!
5. Serverless (AWS Lambda and AWS API Gateway)
Serverless architecture is changing the way apps are developed. It combines AWS Lambda, which runs your code based on events, with API Gateway, which manages requests to your app. This allows you to create applications that can automatically adjust to the number of users.
This setup is especially useful for projects with unpredictable traffic.
For example, if your app suddenly gets a lot of visitors, serverless architecture can easily handle the extra demand by increasing its computing power. This ensures that users have a good experience and helps you save money since you only pay for the resources you actually use.
Serverless is also great for apps that use microservices, where small, separate parts work together. Each microservice can be updated and scaled on its own, making it easier to manage.
However, serverless isn’t the best choice for every app. If your app needs constant access to specific hardware or has high traffic all the time, traditional hosting might be a better option. Also, if you’re not sure how much your app will be used, the pay-as-you-go pricing of serverless could lead to unexpected costs.
6. ECS (Elastic Container Service)
Containers are software packages that include everything needed to run a program, such as libraries, packages, and the actual code. This allows the application to work on any platform. Container-based computing helps manage the starting, stopping, and controlling of Docker containers within a group of servers, and Amazon ECS is a well-known option for this.
ECS lets developers run their applications in the cloud without worrying about setting up or maintaining the environment for their code. If an application experiences a sudden increase in traffic, it checks the CPU and memory usage for its container and can automatically adjust its size within the group of servers.
In ECS, applications operate on a collection of servers known as a Cluster, which is simply a group of tasks or services that work together. The tasks or services run on the infrastructure that is designated for that cluster.
While ECS is excellent for managing many containers, it might be too much for simpler applications. If you need something that’s very quick and easily adjustable, you might want to check out options like Fargate or Kubernetes.
7. Fargate
Fargate is a cloud service that lets you run containerized applications without dealing with the complexities of managing servers. It automatically handles scaling, security, and resource allocation, allowing you to focus on your application. You only pay for the resources your containers use, making it cost-effective.
Fargate is ideal for applications that need to quickly scale up or down based on demand. However, if you require granular control over the underlying infrastructure, other options might be more suitable.
8. EKS (Elastic Kubernetes Service)
AWS Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) is a managed platform that helps you use Kubernetes for running containers. Some important features of EKS include its compatibility with Kubernetes, automatic updates, and its ability to work well with other AWS services.
If your team already knows how to use Kubernetes or wants to take advantage of its many features, EKS is a good option. One of the best things about Kubernetes is that it allows you to run your containers on different cloud services or on your own servers.
If you plan to use multiple cloud providers, EKS may be the right choice. It offers advanced features and flexibility for complex applications, including custom networking, security options, and a wide range of tools and add-ons for Kubernetes.
For more information on how EKS works, check out the documentation from AWS. However, if you have a small or simple application, EKS might not be the best fit because it can add more complexity and management tasks.
If your team doesn’t have much experience with Kubernetes or your application doesn’t need its advanced features, simpler options like AWS Elastic Beanstalk or Lightsail might work better for you.
Choosing the Right AWS Hosting for Your Laravel App
For Small Scale Application:
Feature | AWS Lightsail | Laravel Forge | Laravel Vapor |
---|---|---|---|
Scalability | Limited | Basic | High |
Traffic Handling | Struggles with spikes | Handles spikes with adjustments | Handles spikes seamlessly |
Deployment | Simple | GUI-based | Serverless |
Management | Managed, limited control | Managed, no direct control | No server management |
Cost | Budget-friendly | Predictable | Cost-effective, variable |
For Medium Scale Application:
Feature | Elastic Beanstalk | Serverless (Lambda + API Gateway) |
---|---|---|
Scalability | Auto-scaling | Highly scalable |
Traffic Handling | Handles spikes moderately | Handles spikes seamlessly |
Deployment | Moderate options | Streamlined |
Management | Managed | No server management |
Cost | Varies | Variable, cost-effective |
For Large Scale Application:
Feature | ECS | Fargate | EKS |
---|---|---|---|
Scalability | High | High | High |
Traffic Handling | Manageable | Manageable | Manageable |
Deployment | Flexible | Flexible | Flexible |
Management | More control | Less control | Full Control |
Cost | Variable | Efficient | Efficient, Higher |